Dharun Ravi Offers Apology, Will Begin Sentence Thursday

Dharun Ravi has offered an apology for his "thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices" of September, 2010 and will begin his sentence on Thursday.

Ravi will meet with Judge Glen Berman on Wednesday morning in Superior Court to formally tell Berman he is ready to begin his sentence. and then turn himself in to begin the 30 day sentence handed down by Berman last week at the Middlesex County Jail according to the Star Ledger.

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Lawyer Steven Altman says Ravi wants to get his  jail time "over with" despite the fact he does not have to begin the sentence pending appeals of the sentence from both sides. Ravi in a statement said it's "the only way I can go on with my life."

Ravi also issued a statement of apology for his actions for the first time, saying his actions were not motivated by "hate, bigotry, prejuduice" or a desire to hurt anyone.

"I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on September 19, 2010 and September 21, 2010," Ravi wrote. "My behavior and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions. I apologize to everyone affected by those choices."

Ravi was sentenced  to a 30-day jail term and then probation. Brennan also ordered  Ravi to get counseling and pay $10,000 toward a program to help victims of hate crimes.

AN APOLOGY WOULD BE "INSINCERE"

He told Newark's The Star-Ledger newspaper in an interview conducted before the sentencing but published afterward that he did not want to say he was sorry during the sentencing because he thought it would sound insincere.

During the sentencing, Clementi's brother James Clementi said that hearing an apology that late from Ravi would not be meaningful to him.

QUESTIONING THE TIMING OF THE APOLOGY

On Tuesday, the state's largest gay rights group, Garden State Equality, said it was happy Ravi had publicly apologized. But Chairman Steven Goldstein said the group was questioning the timing of the apology.

"We have mixed emotions, and so rather than take an organizational stance just yet, we have posited the question to our members on (the group's) Facebook page to ask what they think," Goldstein said.

Garden State Equality has said Ravi deserves more jail time than he received but "nowhere near" the maximum sentence he could have received.

"We have said that our hearts would be open to an apology had Ravi opened his heart up to us all," Goldstein said. "He could have apologized in a way that would not have compromised his legal position. But he came across to many of us as unremorseful both before the trial and in engineered media appearances after the verdict."

Statement From Dharun Ravi

"Last Monday, I was sentenced to 3 years probation, 300 hours of community service, a fine of more than $10,000.00, and 30 days in jail. Since the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office appealed that sentence, the sentence does not have to start until the appeal is decided. Nevertheless, I decided to accept and hopefully
complete the sentence as soon as possible. It's the only way I can go on with my life.

I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on September 19, 2010 and September 21, 2010. My behavior and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions. I apologize to everyone affected by those choices. I am surrendering myself to the Middlesex County Correctional Facility on Thursday, May 31, 2012, to start my 30-day
period of imprisonment."